Brandon – Two years since the party lost Brandon West by the narrowest of margins, it appears as if the provincial New Democratic Party could recapture its former seat in the Wheat City if a provincial election were held today.

A Probe Research poll conducted exclusively for the Brandon Sun reveals that the governing NDP leads the rival Progressive Conservative Party throughout Brandon. The NDP, which currently holds one of the city’s two seats in the Manitoba Legislature, is supported by 45 percent of decided voters city-wide. The Progressive Conservatives, whose MLA Rick Borotsik wrested Brandon West from NDP cabinet minister Scott Smith in the 2007 provincial election, enjoy the support of one in three Brandon adults (33%). Twelve percent of decided voters would cast a ballot for a Manitoba Liberal Party candidate, while a slightly smaller proportion (10%) support parties that are not represented in the Legislature. Thirteen percent of voters were undecided.

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Labels: Brandon politics, Manitoba Liberal Party, NDP, Probe Research, Progressive Conservative Party

Winnipeg – There may be a new face in the premier’s chair, but the governing New Democratic Party has maintained its familiar place in front of its rivals as Manitoba most-popular political party.

A new Probe Research Inc./Winnipeg Free Press survey finds that new Premier Greg Selinger and his NDP government would be re-elected by nearly one-half (47%) of decided Manitoba voters if a provincial election were held today. The NDP now enjoys a 10-percentage point advantage over its nearest rivals, the Progressive Conservative party, which is the first choice of 37 percent of decided voters. The Manitoba Liberal Party, meanwhile, remains a distant third with the support of 11 percent of decided voters. Four percent of decided voters would cast ballots for parties not represented in the Legislature. Nearly in five voters (19%) are undecided.

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Labels: Greg Selinger, Manitoba Liberal Party, NDP, Probe Research, Progressive Conservative Party

Winnipeg – Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the governing Conservative Party have rebounded from a slight mid-year dip and now enjoy the support of one out of every two decided Manitoba voters.

A new poll conducted exclusively for the Winnipeg Free Press by Probe Research Inc. shows that the Conservatives have surpassed the same level of support that they enjoyed in the most recent election held in October 2008. As the graph on the following page shows, the Conservatives now have the backing of one-half (50%) of decided voters. The Conservative Party’s current level of support represents an increase of two percentage points since September 2009 and a six-point increase since June 2009.

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Labels: Conservative Party, federal standings, Liberal Party, Manitoba politics, NDP, Probe Research

Winnipeg – Premier Gary Doer’s sudden retirement as leader of the Manitoba New Democratic Party has not affected the party’s popularity with Manitoba voters, a new Probe Research Inc./Winnipeg Free Press survey finds.

The provincial New Democrats remain the most popular party in the province, with 45 percent of Manitobans stating they would vote for the NDP in a hypothetical provincial election. For the NDP, which will choose a new leader October 17, this represents no change since the last sounding conducted in June 2009.

With the support of 38 percent of decided voters, the Hugh McFadyen-led PCs have increased their popularity by two percentage points and have shrunk the NDP’s advantage from eight percentage points to seven. The Liberals, meanwhile, remain far behind both parties, with just 12 percent of decided voters backing the party led by Jon Gerrard (-2% from June). Four percent of respondents would back other parties not represented in the Legislature, while 15 percent of voters were undecided.

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Labels: Gary Doer, Hugh McFadyen, Jon Gerrard, Manitoba Liberal Party, Manitoba politics, NDP, Probe Research, Progressive Conservative Party

Winnipeg, Manitoba – After nearly 10 years as premier, Gary Doer’s leadership continues to win praise from two-thirds of Manitoba adults, double the approval ratings given to Progressive Conservative leader Hugh McFadyen or Liberal leader Jon Gerrard. As well, the NDP now holds a ten-point lead in voter support, largely based on strong support from Winnipeg voters. Probe Research conducted this most recent random and representative sampling of 1,000 Manitoba adults for the Winnipeg Free Press between March 9th and March 25th, 2009.

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Labels: Gary Doer, Hugh McFadyen, Jon Gerrard, Manitoba Liberal Party, Manitoba politics, NDP, Probe Research, Progressive Conservative Party